MLB · 3 months ago

6 Players the Tigers Should Target at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline

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SP Zack Littell, Tampa Bay Rays
2025 Stats: 116.1 IP, 3.56 ERA, 4.96 FIP, 6.19 K/9

Former reliever Zack Littell has quietly become a dependable innings-eater for the Tampa Bay Rays. He doesn’t light up the radar gun or dominate with strikeouts, but he provides a stable floor and deepens a staff.

Littell would be a low-cost rental for the Tigers—a back-end rotation option who could shift to long relief in the postseason. Not a splashy move, but one that makes sense for a team eyeing October.

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3B Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 Stats: .246/.313/.550, 29 HR, 135 wRC+

The former Tiger is back on Detroit’s radar as a premier rental bat. Eugenio Suárez is one of the most sought-after players on the market thanks to his elite power and positional value with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He leads all third basemen in home runs and would immediately upgrade the Detroit Tigers' lineup.

That said, his price tag will be steep. Contenders are lining up for Suárez, and with few impact bats available, it’ll take more than a mid-tier return. While the Tigers likely won't move top prospects like Max Clark or Kevin McGonigle, someone in the top 10—outside the untouchables—might be necessary to seal the deal.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.
3B Yoán Moncada, Los Angeles Angels
2025 Stats: .232/.326/.491, 7 HR, 125 wRC+ (34 G)

If Detroit wants a more budget-friendly rental, Yoan Moncada is an intriguing fallback. The switch-hitting third baseman brings experience and a strong approach at the plate, despite inconsistency and an injury history. He’s on a one-year, $5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels and wouldn’t cost much in return.

Moncada isn’t the type to carry an offense, but he would deepen the lineup and offer more stability than some in-house options. It wouldn’t take more than a lower-tier prospect to acquire him—a low-risk addition with moderate upside.

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RP David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 Stats: 30 IP, 2.70 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 12.90 K/9

The Tigers’ bullpen has overachieved, but adding a dominant arm like David Bednar could make a real difference. After a shaky 2024, the Pittsburgh Pirates closer has bounced back with a strong season, flashing elite strikeout numbers and consistent late-inning results.

Bednar is under team control beyond 2025, giving Detroit more than a short-term rental. That extra year also increases his trade value—but if the Tigers want to double down on pitching rather than overpay for offense, Bednar is a premium target.
RP Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals
2025 Stats: 31 IP, 3.19 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 10.16 K/9

Like Bednar, Ryan Helsley offers high-leverage experience and swing-and-miss stuff. He’s been effective this season with the St. Louis Cardinals, and his expiring contract could make him a slightly more affordable bullpen option at the deadline.

Even if the Cardinals aren’t sellers, Helsley’s status makes him likely to move. The Tigers could capitalize by offering a controllable player or two from the fringes of their top-30 list.

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SP Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 Stats: 111 IP, 3.41 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 8.68 K/9, 2.35 BB/9

Veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly is exactly the type of steady starter Detroit has shown a willingness to pursue. At 36, he’s still highly effective for the Arizona Diamondbacks and has playoff-tested durability. If Jack Flaherty’s inconsistencies continue, Kelly could be a stabilizer in the Tigers’ rotation.

His price won’t be outrageous, and a package centered around someone like Jace Jung could work for both clubs. Kelly isn’t flashy, but he’s reliable—and reliability plays in October.
SP Zack Littell, Tampa Bay Rays
2025 Stats: 116.1 IP, 3.56 ERA, 4.96 FIP, 6.19 K/9

Former reliever Zack Littell has quietly become a dependable innings-eater for the Tampa Bay Rays. He doesn’t light up the radar gun or dominate with strikeouts, but he provides a stable floor and deepens a staff.

Littell would be a low-cost rental for the Tigers—a back-end rotation option who could shift to long relief in the postseason. Not a splashy move, but one that makes sense for a team eyeing October.

For all your MLB deep dives, check out our friends at Just Baseball.
3B Eugenio Suárez, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 Stats: .246/.313/.550, 29 HR, 135 wRC+

The former Tiger is back on Detroit’s radar as a premier rental bat. Eugenio Suárez is one of the most sought-after players on the market thanks to his elite power and positional value with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He leads all third basemen in home runs and would immediately upgrade the Detroit Tigers' lineup.

That said, his price tag will be steep. Contenders are lining up for Suárez, and with few impact bats available, it’ll take more than a mid-tier return. While the Tigers likely won't move top prospects like Max Clark or Kevin McGonigle, someone in the top 10—outside the untouchables—might be necessary to seal the deal.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.

6 Players the Tigers Should Target at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline

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